Rug anchoring device



June 2, 1936. D. B. WURZBURG RUG ANCHORING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1934 I INVENTOR.

Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUG ancnonme rumor-z Donald Wurzburg, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application August 20,1934, Serial No. 140,121

3 Claims. (01. 154 -4! The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rug anchoring device which is well adapted for use with waxed and otherwise highly polished floors or supporting surfaces.

Second, to provide rug anchoring means of this character which is adaptedto be directly secured to the under surface of the rug, the anchoring means being adapted to flex with the rug when the latter is lifed at its corner.

Third, to provide a rug anchoringdevice having an everlasting vacuum floor-gripping facing which depends largely upon the action of atmospheric pressure for holding the rug in place, the rug at the same time being capable of being lifted and replaced as desired.

Fourth, to provide a rug anchoring device having the above desirable features and characteristics and which is' simple and economical, and very eflicient and effective for the purpose intended, and does not injure the rug or the floor.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rug having anchoring devices embodying the features of my invention associated therewith, the parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of my rug anchoring devices, a portion of the adhesive or. glue being removed to show the fabric, the showing being conventional and no attempt being made to show the layers proportionally.

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section taken on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a preferred method of applying the device to the rug, an electric iron being used to supply the heat, the iron being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the step of removing the temporary covering from the gripping facing.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the device in operation.

I am not the first to propose means for anchoring a rug in place on a floor to prevent the rug from slipping, especially where the support,- ing surface is highly polished with wax or the like. In the past, such rug anchoring devices have been subject to several very serious disadvantages. In the first place, the method of securing the anchoring .device to the rug presented a difficulty the solution of which was attempted by providing metallic fastening means which clamped over the rug or extended through the 5 same. Such fastening means not'only marredthe floor, but also in some cases damaged the rug and the anchoring device. Another difliculty lay in the method ofv securing the anchoring device to the floor to provide an effective grip. Attempts 10 to solve this difiiculty lay, in gluing the anchor ing device to the floor so that when the device wasv lifted the finish of the floor was marred. Where wax polish was used the adhesive would not stick, owing to the wax coating.

The main purpose of my invention is to provide an anchoring device which not only solves these difficulties, but which is most effective on a highly polished surface, even though the same is coated wih wax polish, In fact, my device works 20 better on a highly polished waxed floor, the gripping action of my device being directly proportional to the smoothness of the supporting surface. Further, my device permits the rug to be lifted and replaced as may be desired on any 25 part of the floor, without marring the 'floor or its finish or smearing in any way. However, when once'the rug is placed in position, the powerful action of atmospheric pressure is brought into play to hold the rug in place.

Referring to the drawing, I is a rug having anchoring devices 2 embodying the features of my'invention disposed under the corners of the same. In this connection it should be noted that the anchoring devices may be distributed as desired under the rug. Since the anchoring devices 2 are similar, only one will be described in detail.

My anchoring device 2 consists of a piece of fabric 3 such as canvas or duck, having on one side a flexible glue or adhesive 4 which is adapted to secure the fabric directly to the rug I when moistened and heated. The glue 4 may be termed heat softened or remoistening because it is rendered more plastic or softened by heating and 5 may be softened by moisture like any standard glue.

on the other side of the piece of fabric is a layer or facing 5 consisting of a mixture of 25 parts of rosin 14,30 parts of medium process oil, 50 and 1000 parts of masticated pale crepe rubber. The oil is preferably a clear mineral oil having a naphthene base.

The anchoring facing [is provided with a temporary covering 6 of fabric or paper which is u adapted to be peeled off after the device is affixed to the rug for use. Thus, the device is readily marketed, a plurality of the patches or anchoring devices being sold in one carton.

The facing 5 provides a long life vacuum floorgripping means which frictionally engages and seals the device to the supporting surface, however smooth and highly polished when firmly pressed into contact therewith. The facing is also adapted to be readily detached from the supporting surface by a peeling action as in lift ing one corner of the rug, and does not mar or smear the polished surface, even though the latter is waxed and highly finished. This anchoring surface is permanently cohesive in itself, that is, it does not stick to the floor when the device is removed as described. Thus, the rug may be lifted and replaced as desired without affecting the operation of my anchoring devices.

The gripping action of the facing is in general proportional to the smoothness of the supporting surface and the extent to which the air is forced from between the facing and the surface to bring into play the action of atmospheric pressure for holding the device in place. As shown by Fig. 6. my anchoring device 2 holds the rug I securely inplace on the polished fioor I.

The device is applied tothe rug by first applying the same to the desired position on the under surface of the rug with the glue covered surface in contact therewith, the glue being first moistened if desired. The hot fiatiron 8 is then applied to the anchor to soften the glue further to secure the parts together. when the parts cool a very effective connection is established between the anchoring device and the rug owing to the fact that the glue melts and flows partially into the fibers of the rug.

The protective covering 6 is then removed by peeling the same from the facing 5, as illustrated by Fig. 5. The rug is then turned over to its normal position and the corners are pressed down so as to knead the anchoring devices 2 to force the air from between the contacting surfaces of the floor I and facing 5. The action of atmospheric pressure is this brought into play and the rug is held securely in place on the floor. The rug is lifted by merely raising one corner in the usual manner so as to peel the anchoring devices 2 from the fioor as described above.

From the above description of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I provide a rug anchoring device which is not only simple and economical, but which is highly effective for the purpose intended, and will not mar even the most highly polished supporting surfaces.

I have illustrated and described by improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvenrents as may be desired.

Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rug anchoring device of the character set forth comprising a piece of fabric having on one side thereof a flexible adhesive adapted to be moistened and/or heated to secure the fabric directly to the rug and a floor gripping facing on the other side of said piece of fabric, said floor gripping facing consisting of a mixture of rubber, rosin and oil combined in such proportions as to provide a smooth elastic surface, and a temporary cover for said floor grippingfacing providing a surfaceto which a hot iron may be applied for heating the attaching adhesive and pressing the anchoring member upon a rug.

2. A rug anchoring device of the character set forth comprising a piece of fabric having on one side thereof a flexible adhesive adapted to secure the fabric directly to the rug and a floor gripping facing on the other side of said piece of fabric, said fioor gripping facing consisting of a mixture of rubber, rosin and oil combined in such proportions as to provide a smooth elastic surface, and a temporary cover for said floor gripping facing providing a surface to which a hot iron may be applied for heating the attaching adhesive and pressing the anchoring member upon a rug.

3. A rug anchoring device of the character set forth comprising a piece of fabric having on one side thereof a flexible adhesive adapted to secure the fabric directly to the rug and a floor gripping facing on the other side of said piece of fabric, said floor gripping facing consisting of a mixture of rubber, rosin and oil combined in such proportions as to provide a smooth elastic cohesive surface.

DONALD B. WURZBURG. 

